After a four-point loss at home to the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, the Washington Redskins fall eight spots -- from No. 17 to No. 25 -- in ESPN’s Week 3 NFL power rankings.
It’s tied for the largest drop of the week with the Green Bay Packers (No. 1 to No. 9) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 14 to No. 22).
Washington’s problems are widespread, but keeping quarterback Kirk Cousins upright has not been one of them.
Pressure not the problem
Cousins’ early-season struggles have been well documented, but one thing that has been overlooked is how well his offensive line has held up on pass plays. They lead the league in pass protection percentage, having controlled the line of scrimmage on 57 percent of dropbacks this season.
The Redskins have allowed pressure on 14 percent of Cousins’ dropbacks through Week 2, the second-lowest rate in the NFL.
Only Eli Manning has been pressured on a lower percentage of dropbacks so far in 2016. Manning’s Total QBR of 80, along with his three-to-one touchdown-to-interception ratio, is much better than Cousins’ QBR of 56 and one-to-three ratio.
Defenses are not blitzing Cousins like they did last season. Cousins faced five or more pass rushers on 29 percent of his dropbacks in 2015 compared with 15 percent in 2016.
Cousins has already thrown three interceptions on 74 attempts when defenses have dropped at least seven into coverage. His fourth-quarter interception Sunday came on a throw into the end zone after the Cowboys’ four-man rush failed to generate any pressure.
Cousins had four interceptions against four-man rushes on 387 attempts last season. None of his picks were on throws into the end zone.
The good news for the Redskins is that Cousins' accuracy, which played a huge role in his breakout 2015 season, has not dropped off. Cousins was off target on 15.7 percent of his pass attempts last season and 15.5 percent of his attempts so far this season.
Defense not getting it done
Washington’s pass protection has held up well against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cowboys, but its pass defense has been one of the worst in the league.
The Redskins have allowed a QBR of 89, second-worst in the NFL behind the Oakland Raiders (91). Washington also ranks in the bottom four in opponent completion percentage and yards per attempt.
Their defense has not been able to get off the field on third down. On 22 third-down dropbacks, their opponents have completed 17 of 21 passes (81 percent) for 221 yards (10.6 yards per attempt), one touchdown and a QBR of 96 with just one sack.
The biggest conversion came on a third-and-11 play with the Redskins up three late in the fourth quarter Sunday. Washington rushed five but did not generate any pressure, allowing Dak Prescott to complete a 12-yard pass to Cole Beasley.
Dallas took the lead later that drive on former Redskins running back Alfred Morris’ first rushing touchdown with the Cowboys.